Chapter 47
ALARIC
At least she’s making extra money and can reduce the number of lives she hosts over the next few weeks.
The flouncy black skirt she’s paired with a Granata-red T-shirt sparks all sorts of ideas in my imagination.
She spent extra time doing her hair and makeup this morning, and while she looks beautiful, I can’t help but resent losing what I thought was guaranteed cuddle time when her alarm went off even earlier than mine.
“I miss you already.” Leaning against the wall near the front doors of my building, I snag her hand and pull her back to me.
She shakes her head, laughing, and gently frees herself from my hold. “We’re going to the same place.”
Hands in my pockets, I duck, focusing on my feet. All morning, this niggling in my gut hasn’t left me alone. I don’t want to do this.
Scratch that: I don’t want Evangeline to have to do this.
In just a few hours, she’s going to walk onto a stage and confront her tactless, spiteful ex-boyfriend in front of dozens of cameras, and there’s not a damn thing I can do to protect her.
I’m not looking forward to seeing Luca either.
But the need to keep Evangeline close—to beg her to sit this one out and let me take care of the money she’s owed so we can be done with this mess once and for all—is overwhelming. So much so that I have to visualize cinderblocks strapped to my feet to keep myself grounded.
When a car pulls into the portico, the license plate matching the car I ordered for her, she tips her chin toward the exit. “That’s me.”
I push off the wall and step into her personal space, cupping her face. “I’m sorry in advance for anything hard or stressful that happens today.”
She raises both eyebrows. “We both know what we have to do when we’re at the paddock,” she reminds me. “Sure, it’ll be hard, but this event will be over before lunchtime. Plus, I’ll be back here tonight.”
That eases the tension in my shoulders a little. “You’re sure staying in again is okay?”
I don’t know who I am right now. The anxiety about this event is getting to me. “We could sneak down to the marina if you want to have dinner on the water. Or I could—”
She cuts me off with a kiss, then pops up on her tiptoes to press her forehead into mine. “Staying in is perfect.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say the words I’ve been ruminating over all morning.
I love her.
I’m in love with her.
I want to be the person and place she craves for the rest of her days.
But I stop myself from uttering the words, just like I have a dozen times this morning. We’re both under extra pressure today. This is not the time or place to share a love confession, no matter how strongly the conviction presses against my chest.
We’ll be in Monaco for another week, then I’ll head for the States for the three-week break before the Circuit of the Americas Grand Prix in Austin.
I’m going to invite her to stay with me again. Her belongings are already at my house anyway. Logistically, it’ll be a breeze. More than that, I don’t want to be apart from her for even a single night if we can help it.
“I’ve got to go.” She glances at the waiting car.
I don’t drop my hold on her hips, and she doesn’t make any move to walk away.
We’re hovering on a precipice, neither of us eager to burst the blissful bubble we’ve created over the last several days.
Evangeline’s delicate throat bobs as she swallows. “Alaric… this last week…”
She trails off and averts her eyes, like the confession might be too much.
It’s not.
Nothing is ever too much for me when it comes to this woman.
I capture her chin, gently tipping her head up. “I know,” I assure her, acknowledging all the things she didn’t say. “I feel it, too.”
Eyelashes fluttering closed, she sucks in a deep breath, centering herself.
This is what we signed up for: public fronts and unwanted goodbyes. We know the roles we must play. After this past week, it’ll be harder than ever to pretend I’m not deeply and irrevocably devoted to her.
“At least we still have tonight,” she says, false hope lacing her tone.
We still have forever.
That’s what I want with her, but I don’t say it. Not now, when we’re trying to slip on the professional masks required to get through this day.
Instead, I kiss her forehead, take a measured step back, and fake an easy smile.
“I’ll see you back here tonight, angel.”